Monday, September 26, 2016

NORMAL, Alabama — Southern's SWAC road opener didn't get off to a great start.

But after those first 15 seconds? It went about as well as it could.

After allowing a return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff, Southern clamped down and dominated the rest of the way, crushing Alabama A&M 59-31 on its home turf Saturday.

"It’s not the way you want to start a game, but it’s still a game," Southern coach Dawson Odums said. "They rebounded. We’ve just got to come out with a little more energy and excitement. We picked it up as the game went on."

Southern rolled up 503 yards of total offense through the first three quarters before pulling their starters, and saw some prominent plaayers put up career games.

Austin Howard fired a career-high five touchdown passes before he and the rest of the starters were pulled in the fourth quarter.